Guard for electric connections



Feb. 24. 19.25.

A. J. TlDBALL GUARD FOR ELECTRIC comzzc'nous Filed Dec. 20, 1923 v g wue'ntoz u M 0 J H n w fi attomuq iii Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

T EiD .?S T A P ATFE'N T Q FFICEZ AUBREY J. TIDBAIZ-L, orrwo rrnnsons, MINNESOTA.

GUARD* FOR ELEGTR-IC CONNECTIONS.

Application filed Deceniber 20-, 1923. Serial No. 681,676.

To all whomlit may concern.

Be it known that I, AUBREYJ. TIDBALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Two Harbors, in the county of Lake and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guards for Electric Connections, of which the fob lowing is a specification, reference being ha-d therein'to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relatesto guards or shields for electric connections and has particular reference to such a guard orshield for portable electric lights used at the terminus of the flexible wire or cable.

Such termini are usually provided with what are known to the trade as weather sockets, and one object of my present invention is to provide an improved form of shield for such weather sockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel union between such a shield and other forms of lamp accessories, such as a bulb guard or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the further description thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a. vertical central section of one of the improved guards or protectors about a weather socket having cooperatively associated therewith a lamp guard or shield;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the improved shields or protectors having associated therewith a wire encompassing lock or fastener; and

Figure 3 is an end elevation of Figure 2, showing the guard and lock in closed position.

1 represents the terminus of a two-wire electric circuit to which is attached in the ordinary manner the weather socket 2, and about which is placed the tapered or cone shaped metal shield 8, having securely fixed to the inner apex end thereof the flaring end 4: of the spring wire coil 5 through which the electric wires are passed, the latter of course being insulated in the usual manner.

In this improved construction I have illustrated the wire coil 5 as being thoroughly insulated, the same preferably being ac complished by a double fabric insulation surrounding the wire after which it is dipped or completely impregnated with acid and weather proof liquid.

Formed integrally with the-opposite end of the shield 3 are protruding lugs or fingers 6, any desired number of which may be formed upon the shield, and these fingers are preferably separated from the body portion of the shield for a considerable distance back from the end thereof, as for example by the slots or cuts 7, so as to minimize the liability of breakage of said fingers by-repeated bending as for example by removal from or application to a socket. Each of the fingers is bent abruptly inwardly forming a knuckle S transverse same, said knuckle occurring ust beyond the end wall of the shield 3, and which knuckle is for the express purpose of holding engagement within the annular recess 9 or the like, usually found about the sockets, such as illustrated at 2, said engagement being made secure either by the encompassing ring 10 or the surrounding metal portion 11 of the lamp shield 0r guard 12, which latter is commonly found in the trade. The metal base or ends 11 found on such lamp guards are usually made separable, that is to say, constructed of two hingedly united halves which may be opened or sprung apart for the purpose of engagement about a socket, making them admirably adapted for cooperative engagement with the improved socket guard or shield. In the event of the lamp shield not being used, the surrounding wire lock 10 may be hingedly united with the shield 3 by one of the lugs 6 being bent about same as at 13 forming a permanent union between the shield and the lock, the spaced termini 14 of said lock having eyes formed therein and adjustably secured by a suitable bolt 15.

By this means it is evident that a very secure and desirable connection may be accomplished.

Again if it should become desirable to unite two opposed sockets, one being male and the other female, each would be provided with a shield having the protruding fingers which may be interlocked by one of said shields being provided with the locking member 10 and the fingers 6 caused to be circumferentially aligned beneath the wire. It is obvious that two or more of said protruding fingers may be employed as desired.

I have illustrated at 16 in Figure l the use of a tapered insulated plug, and how that it might be slipped onto the wires 1. before the socket 2 is attached thereto, and

subsequent to the application of the shields 3 so that when the Wire, socket and plug are pulled into the shield, the latter will take the major portion of the draft from the Wire 1, thus additionally insuring against a broken plug connection.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a shield for an electric terminal socket having spaced protruding resilient fingers formed integral with the base of the shield and registering With an annular groove in the socket, adjustable means encircling the socket and the resilient fingers for securely uniting same, said adjustable means also registering with the annular groove.

2. In combination, a shield for an electric terminal socket having spaced protruding resilient fingers formed integral With the base of the shield and registering with an annular groove in the socket, a lamp shield having an adjustable base encircling the socket and the resilient fingers for securely uniting same. I

3. In combination, a shield for an electric terminal socket having spaced protruding resilient fingers formed integral with the base of the shield and registering with an annular groove in the socket, adjustable means pivotally carried upon the socket encircling the socket and the resilient fingers for securely uniting same, said adjustable means also registering with the annular groove.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

AUBREY J. TIDBALL. Witnesses:

S. C. BRONSON,

S. Gno. STEVENS. 

